ABSTRACT
Some 11% of the world's adolescent pregnancies (15–19 years) are stated to occur in India which has the highest number of 12- to 15-year-olds giving birth (approximately 6,000,000). Yet, premarital sex is stigmatized and adolescent pregnancies amongst unwed mothers is a relatively unresearched area in the Global South due to the associated social taboo. Young Lives undertook a qualitative survey to gain a nuanced understanding of adolescent pregnancy and motherhood in India to highlight the interplay between socio-economic status, caste, patriarchy, female sexuality, and exercise of agency as experienced by adolescent girls living in poverty. This chapter, based on a qualitative survey, covers in-depth analysis of the circumstances that lead to adolescent pregnancy and motherhood based on the lived experiences of adolescent girls interviewed in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. Based on the voices of teenagers, the authors explore how teenage mothers cope with pregnancy, childbearing, and the responsibilities of caring within the realm of institutional care, and explore the future aspirations and challenges of the girls. To inform programmes and policies and the need for policy reform, the authors succinctly map the government supports in place for adolescent girls living in poverty and identifies the needs of adolescent girls and young mothers.
